Mack Brown clarifies status after report he told North Carolina team he was resigning

Mack Brown may or may not have told his North Carolina team he was resigning in an emotional locker room speech following a 70-50 home loss to James Madison on Saturday, but later clarified that he was staying put.

ESPN's Chris Low reported on Saturday evening that Brown, 73, will be "back at work" Sunday after the Tar Heels were throttled on their home field by a Group of 5 school. North Carolina (3-1) trailed 53-21 at halftime and turned the ball over five times and surrendered 611 total yards on the way to allowing the most points in program history.

Inside Carolina, the 247 Sports site that covers the Tar Heels, reported earlier Saturday — citing sources — that Brown told his team he was "walking away" in the middle of his sixth season. However, the site later backtracked to indicate Brown was staying on.

Shelby Swanson, who covers the Tar Heels for the Raleigh News & Observer, indicated that what supposed to have been a motivational talk in the post-game locker room might have been misinterpreted.

Brown did not make North Carolina players available in the post-game, taking full blame for the loss.

"Embarrassing day. Shocking day," Brown said. "You shouldn't be at North Carolina and lose to a Group of 5 team, period. There are no excuses. Our defense, who played great all spring, all preseason, and played outstanding for the first three games, looked awful today.

"... "I hired everybody that works in this building, and I've signed every player on this team. So I mean, the people that want to blame me, they should, because I am at fault 100 percent."

Brown is in the sixth season of his second stint at North Carolina, where he is 41-28 since 2019. He has an overall record of 285-150-1 in 36 seasons at UNC, Appalachian State, Tulane and Texas.

North Carolina opens ACC play at Duke next Saturday.